The chemo brain is a term used to describe the cognitive effects of chemotherapy. It’s also called chemo fog, cancer fog, and chemo-induced cognitive impairment (CICI). Chemotherapy can damage cells in the parts of the brain that control memory, concentration, problem-solving, and multitasking.
How to fight fatigue during chemo?
How to Fight Fatigue During Chemotherapy 1 Get moving. You might not feel like moving a muscle, but exercise can actually boost your energy. ... 2 Ease your mind. Mind-body workouts like yoga, tai chi, or qi gong (a Chinese form of moving meditation) can reduce fatigue by helping you focus on relaxation. 3 Go easy on yourself. ... 4 Sleep well. ...
How long does chemo fogginess last?
Often, the fogginess will fade when your chemo ends. But for some people, the fuzzy feelings will linger for several months or sometimes a year or more.
How can I avoid getting sick during chemo treatments?
To avoid getting sick while undergoing chemo treatments, practice good hygiene, eat well, exercise regularly, and talk to your doctor about getting a flu vaccine. Getting an infection, even a simple cold, while you are undergoing chemotherapy can be life-threatening.
How can I Manage my diet during chemo treatment?
If you have special nutrition considerations as a result of your chemotherapy treatment, talk to your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to ensure you're getting the right nutrients and enough calories.
What does chemo fog feel like?
Common signs of chemo brain include: Confusion or mental fogginess. Finding it harder to multitask (do more than one activity at a time) Forgetfulness or short attention span.
How long does chemo fog last for?
Commonly called “chemo brain,” it's often described as an overall mental fogginess, and breast cancer patients may find that it lasts for six months after chemotherapy ends, according to a study published in the December 2016 Journal of Clinical Oncology.
How do you get rid of brain fog from chemo?
Treatments for chemo brain may include:Cognitive rehabilitation: This might be part of a cancer rehabilitation (rehab) program. ... Exercise: Exercise can improve your thinking and ability to focus. ... Meditation: Meditation can help improve brain function by increasing your focus and awareness.
Does chemo give you foggy brain?
Chemotherapy can help you fight cancer, but side effects are almost certain. It's common for you to have a cloudy mind, called "chemo brain," during and after treatment. Maybe you have a hard time remembering names or can't multitask as well as you used to.
What are the signs that chemo is not working?
Here are some signs that chemotherapy may not be working as well as expected: tumors aren't shrinking. new tumors keep forming. cancer is spreading to new areas.
Is chemo progressively worse?
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
What supplements help with chemo brain?
There are supplements at health food stores, or online that nourish the brain, providing more glucose and improved blood flow. Ask your oncologist if some of the following would be beneficial for you: vinpocetine, Ginkgo biloba, bacopa, phosphatidylserine, coconut oil and DHA.
How can you tell if you have brain fog?
Symptoms of brain fogfeeling “spacy” or confused.feeling fatigued.thinking more slowly than usual, and needing more time to complete simple tasks.being easily distracted.having trouble organizing thoughts or activities.forgetfulness, such as forgetting daily tasks or losing a train of thought.word-finding difficulties.
What is the fastest way to recover from chemo?
Tips: fighting fatiguePlan your day. ... Save your energy by changing how you do things. ... Take short naps or rest breaks between activities.Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.Do what you enjoy, but do less of it. ... Let others help you. ... Just say "no" to things that do not matter as much to you now.More items...
How do you release brain fog?
Treatment – ways to end brain fogSpend less time on computer and mobile phone – remind yourself to take a break.Positive thinking, reduce stress.Change your diet.Get enough sleep – 7-8 hours a day, go to bed at 10pm or no later than midnight.Regular exercise.Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drinking coffee in the afternoon.More items...
Does brain fog go away?
In many cases, brain fog is temporary and gets better on its own. However, we don't really understand why brain fog happens after COVID-19, or how long these symptoms are likely to last. But we do know that this form of brain fog can affect different aspects of cognition.
What are symptoms of chemo brain?
Chemo brain symptoms include:Mild forgetfulness.Word-finding difficulties (searching for a word that's on the tip of the tongue)Difficulty remember dates, names, phone numbers, etc.Trouble concentrating.Difficulty multitasking.Taking longer than usual to finish routine tasks.
How to take care of a person after chemo?
The ACS recommends taking these steps after a chemotherapy session: Watch for shaking and chills, and take the person’s temperature when the shaking stops. Take the person’s temperature in their mouth or armpit. Call a healthcare professional if a fever is present. Offer fluids and snacks.
How to treat an infection after chemo?
A healthcare professional begins by administering antibiotics before testing for the type of pathogen that is causing the infection.
What happens if you have a fever after chemo?
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that can damage healthy white blood cells. This can weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections. Anyone who develops a fever after chemotherapy should contact a medical professional right away.
What to do if you have a fever?
What to do if a fever is present. If a fever develops, contact a healthcare professional immediately. A fever is often the first and only sign of an infection. Try not to take medication to reduce the fever before speaking with a doctor. The medication will not help fight the infection.
Does chemotherapy cause fever?
These are an important part of the immune system. If the chemotherapy weakens the immune system to a great extent, a person has an increased risk of developing an infection, which can result in a fever.
Does chemotherapy affect the immune system?
Cancer and chemotherapy can limit the immune system to the extent that it is difficult to recover from common illnesses. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cells, including cancerous ones. Many healthy cells are also fast-growing, however, and the drugs can also harm these.
Can you recover from chemo if you have a fever?
People who have recently undergone chemotherapy are often less able to recover from infections, which can become serious quickly. Anyone in this position who has a fever should contact a healthcare professional right away. Make sure to let them know about the cancer and chemotherapy.
How to get rid of fatigue?
Try walking or another moderate activity you enjoy as often as you can even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Ease your mind. Mind-body workouts like yoga, tai chi, or qi gong (a Chinese form of moving meditation) can reduce fatigue by helping you focus on relaxation. Go easy on yourself.
What to do before bed?
Right before bed is also a good time for activities that relax you, like meditation or journaling. Talk it out. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness can add to fatigue as well. A therapist can help you let out some of those feelings.
How to keep your body from getting tired?
It’s important to bring this up with your doctor, but there are also a few steps you can take to keep your fatigue in check. Get moving. You might not feel like moving a muscle, but exercise can actually boost your energy. (Make sure you get your doctor’s OK first.)
How to get rid of a tired body?
If your appetite is off, try eating 5 to 6 small meals throughout the day instead of three big ones. Cut back on sugar. Sugar y foods spike your energy, but it wears off quickly. In the end, you’re left even more worn out.
What is the side effect of chemotherapy?
Constipation is a common side effect of chemotherapy or other medications prescribed during cancer treatment. Constipation is defined as having hard or infrequent stools or difficulty in having a bowel movement. Tom Merton / Getty Images.
How long does it take for bowel movement to go away after chemo?
These can include abdominal cramping, a sense of fullness in the abdomen, rectal pain, and of course, you may notice that you haven't had a bowel movement for 2 or 3 days if you are usually regular. 1 The symptoms, however, are not always obvious to those going through chemotherapy ...
Can chemotherapy cause constipation?
With some chemotherapy regimens, the combination of drugs, especially drugs to prevent nausea, are very constipating, and your oncologist may recommend using medications for constipation preventively. Make sure to do so, as it is easier to prevent than treat severe constipation.
How Does Chemotherapy Increase the Risk of Colds and Flu?
Chemotherapy weakens the immune system, making people who are undergoing treatment more susceptible to colds, the flu, or other infections.
Colds and Chemotherapy
When you are receiving chemotherapy, it's important to be on the lookout for symptoms of an infection—even a simple cold. 3
The Flu and Chemotherapy
You might also be more likely to catch the flu when you are receiving chemo. The signs and symptoms of the flu can include:
Managing an Infection
A cold or flu infection can be serious if you are having chemotherapy. Treating a cold, the flu, or another infection is different for people receiving chemo because they cannot take certain medications.
Preventing Colds, Flu, and Infections
If you are undergoing cancer treatments, there are steps you can take to prevent colds, the flu, and other infections. 6
Summary
People who are going through chemotherapy treatments for cancer are more susceptible to getting infections. They are also more likely to have severe adverse effects if they become sick with a cold, the flu, or another infection.
A Word From Verywell
Getting an infection, even a simple cold, while you are undergoing chemotherapy can be life-threatening. The best way to protect yourself is by taking preventive measures. If you notice any signs of an infection while you are undergoing chemotherapy, call your doctor right away.
What to avoid when undergoing chemotherapy?
Whether you're currently undergoing chemotherapy or you've completed your treatment and are experiencing acid reflux, it's a good idea to avoid the following to lessen the likelihood of experiencing discomfort. Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea.
Why are antacids not used in chemotherapy?
Despite the relative safety of their ingredients, antacids should not be taken in excess of the dosing recommendations on the label or with certain types of chemotherapy due to possible neutralizing effects on chemotherapy and other drug interactions.
Does chemotherapy cause acid reflux?
Why Chemotherapy Increases Reflux. Acid reflux is common in patients undergoing chemotherapy and after treatment has ended, and this has to do with how chemotherapy drugs work. 1 . Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells. The problem is that they cannot tell the difference between normal, rapidly dividing cells and cancer cells, ...
Is chemotherapy easy?
Chemotherapy is not easy. Feeling sick and fatigued is not uncommon. Acid reflux can only add to this, but it may not be something you just have to live with. Mention your symptoms to your doctors and work together to find strategies that can help prevent episodes as you undergo and look back on cancer treatment.
Can you eat spicy foods while on chemo?
You may already be avoiding many of the foods that can worse n acid reflux (citrus, tomatoes, fatty and spicy foods). They are often ones doctors advise against during chemotherapy because they can worsen side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and mouth sores.
Can you drink alcohol while on chemotherapy?
If you have special nutrition considerations as a result of your chemotherapy treatment, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian to ensure you're getting the right nutrients and enough calories. Drinking Alcohol During Chemotherapy.
Can acid reflux medications be taken with chemotherapy?
Acid reflux drugs come with their own risks and possible interactions with certain types of chemotherapy and other prescription medications. Always talk to your doctor about all of the medications you're taking during chemotherapy and discuss any new medications before starting them.
When to call your doctor for chemo?
Call your doctor whenever you have bothersome symptoms that are unrelieved by the medications he/she prescribed for you.
How to get rid of a cold?
If you have a cold or a viral infection, try getting rest and plenty of fluids. If you suffer from allergies it is a good idea to vacuum and dust furniture weekly since dust can aggravate your symptoms. You may try reducing the humidity in your home to less than 50%.
What medications can be prescribed for cough?
Drugs That May Be Prescribed by Your Doctor for Cough: Drugs that may be prescribed by your health care provider to minimize the effects of cough brought on by chemotherapy: Antitussive: (cough suppressant). Benzonatate, codeine, and dextromethorphan are generic ingredients of various cough preparations.
How to get rid of vertigo?
Walk with assistance if the dizziness is severe. If you have vertigo, your doctor or a trained therapist may teach you exercises, called "vestibular exercises," to try to get rid of your dizziness.
How to stop dizzyness?
Always carry a "sipper" cup filled with your favorite drinks. Change positions slowly to avoid vertigo and/or dizziness. Allow your body a chance to adapt to the position change. For some people, lying down until the dizzy episode passes may be the best solution. With moderate dizziness, walk slowly and often.
Why does cancer cause fluid retention?
Cancer and cancer treatments can cause fluid retention for several reasons, including: 1) hormonal changes from your therapy ; 2) the effects of the drugs themselves (many drugs can cause fluid retention);
How to get rid of fluid in your body?
Your doctor may prescribe medications that can help your body release the fluid. Otherwise, try some of these remedies at home: Cut down on your salt intake-try not to eat salt at all. Be especially careful of canned soups, lunch meats, bacon and ham, soy sauce, potato chips, and the like.
What Is Swelling?
Swelling, otherwise known as edema, is a buildup of fluid in the body. Swelling most often affects the dependent extremities (like the feet, ankles and hands) but swelling can also affect other parts of the body, such as the abdomen. Causes of swelling include:
Things You Can Do To Manage Swelling
Elevate your feet as often as possible. (Either sitting in a chair with your feet on a stool with a pillow or in the bed or couch with feet up on two pillows)